MindStylz news
Danbury's News-Times spotlights MindStylz-trained salon
August 5, 2011
Danbury, CT's online local news source, the News-Times, ran an article about a Danbury salon that offers the MindStylz connection.
At AT&J's Beauty Salon & Training Center, owner/stylists TJ and Tanisha Jamison remarked, "People come in and tell us things. They feel comfortable talking to us. But if I think they've been going through something a long time, it's good to be able to say, 'You need a trained person to talk to.'"
The MindStylz training they received enables them to "identify signs of stress and depression so they could comfortably suggest going for help to their customers in need of that help," according to Rée LeBlanc Gunter.
You can read the full article, "Danbury hair salon offers cuts, waves and a sympathetic ear", on the online newspaper website.
MindStylz is leading story on official website of New England Psychologist
May 2011
nePsy.com, the official website of the New England Psychologist, ran an article on MindStylz as one of their leading stories in the May 2011 issue (Vol. 19, No. 4).
The frequency with which African Americans visit their hair professionals lead to closer relationships between client and professional. "Because they go every other week, individuals usually become close to the stylist," notes Rée LeBlanc Gunter, Ph.D. "Hair stylists are the first to notice changes in a woman's hair, which might indicate stress or some other underlying issue," writes Phyllis Hanlon.
The article, "Mindstylz: Making personal connections", is no longer available on their website, but you can view a PDF of the original article.
MindStylz program showcased in Connecticut Psychological Association Convention
Nov. 14, 2008
EDTF presented the "MindStylz: A Culturally Competent Tool to Promote Mental Health" at the 2008 Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) 22nd Annual Convention. The presenters were Rée LeBlanc Gunter, Ph.D., Gifty Ampadu, M.A., and Mikaru Shichi Lasher, Ph.D. The presentation was well-attended and received special mention by the CPA president.
MindStylz featured on WTNH-TV
Nov. 18, 2008
New Haven, CT television station WTNH-TV ran a story on MindStylz. The article and video are no longer available on their website, but you can view a PDF. They reported on a typical training session, a gathering of hairstylists at a hair salon hosting the event. In this case, the owner of the salon invited the Ethnic Diversity Task Force (EDTF) into her salon to teach her staff techniques on how to notice common signs of depression and make proper referrals to mental health professionals.
"Many people of color will feel more more readily open to their hair stylists," said Dr. Jan Owens-Lane from the CPA. "They will share with their stylists psychological issues they won't share with a clinician. We're talking about someone who has difficulty thinking, concentrating, working, going to school. We are talking about people who are impaired in their daily living." As the hair stylist or barber often becomes a sounding board for their clients, MindStylz encourages more people of color to access mental health treatment. As the article summed up, "It's all about sending the client home looking good and feeling good."
